When they got back home, the two didn't waste time and got to work on each other. Gael and Angela loved the new toy he bought for her. It was a high-tech rabbit vibrator that could be controlled using an app. They paired it up with their phones and learned that one could send an invite to initiate sexy time.

Gael thought that he must have felt they needed this, considering Angela had to go back home to Mayne soon, and they'd have to do the fucking long-distance thing again. The toy wouldn't be anywhere near the real thing, but at least they had it. Fuck—if he really wanted to, he'd fly over to Mayne for the night and then fly back the following day.

Though Toy Gael wasn't a replacement, he told her that she could use it as much as she wanted to, even when he's not physically around to play it with her. "Hit me up whenever you're in the mood. Anytime." He waved the phone in his hand.

"Even when you're in a meeting?" she teased. "Imagine what the board in SVR Corp would say when they catch you playing with your phone with a raging hard-on in your pants."

Gael laughed at that, telling her he'd always find a way. "If you really must get off while I'm in a meeting, I would never leave you frustrated. What kind of boyfriend would I be if I do that to you?"

Angela passed out sometime during midnight after they explored each other's bodies. She was totally spent after keeping up with his godly stamina.

He stayed with her and slept for an hour before he got up and went to his office. There was a lot of work to do, and the next few days were crucial. While Gael kept her happy during the mornings and nights, he had to prepare for taking over Kline and Morgan Holdings soon.

Gael had a meeting with his father before he left for work today. Alessandro told him to free up the rest of his week as they needed to deal with the Morellis. As per the latter's demand, they wanted Gabby and Mariano's wedding this Saturday. Alessandro said he had already decided with his consigliere, but he hadn't told Gael, Giovanni, and the capos his decision yet. Whatever it was, Gael was sure his father had already thought everything through.

And like his father ordered him to do, Gael focused on KMH as he was supposed to meet Morgan in a couple of days. He couldn't help but smile at the thought that he was finally going to see the end of this Morelli bullshit. And when all would be over, he could devote himself to Angela like he planned to.

***

January 15 — Tuesday

Sometime around four in the morning, Angela woke up still in a blissful state. Gael was peacefully sleeping next to her, one hand on his stomach while the other was around her head as she laid it on his chest.

She remembered last night. Every word, every act, every little breath he made that took hers away. Did that really happen? Well, that oral sex in the car certainly did happen.

Mind-blowing sex aside, she knew what he was asking for.

It wasn't lost on Angela that he risked telling her all those things despite knowing what she did to Andy when the latter pretty much asked her the same thing. The only difference between the two was that she didn't love Andy as much as she did Gael. Her feelings towards Gael weren't exactly new as they started budding ever since they met again back on the island.

However, the depth of what she felt for him now scared her. She hadn't felt like this towards anyone before, and she wondered if this was what he was feeling towards her too. She had to curse herself for being a little dense about this despite writing romance novels. Words were just words. She could pull every flowery, attractive, and impactful word even without actually feeling a kind of love herself, and her novels would still be a hit. She didn't know if she should be sad or proud of herself for being capable of doing that.

As this was overwhelming to Angela, she had to think it through. There was no doubt that she loved Gael. No doubt at all. But what about her father and brother? She couldn't just leave Mayne and live in New York, could she? Apart from that, there was the mafia and the bratva and everyone else in it. Being a hundred percent all in with Gael meant that she had to be part of this dark world too. When she chose to put one foot into his world, she felt somewhat safe knowing she still had one foot out.

She wanted to be good for him, wanted to be worthy of him, wanted to be able to stand next to him with her head held high, knowing that she could handle his darkness and be part of his every dirty secret.

Angela decided that in order to do so, she must face some of the things she was running away from. She had to talk to her father. She had to know what he knew about her mother. She couldn't define herself without knowing where she actually came from or the truth behind her family's secrets. There were so many that she was desperate to hear what her father had to say.

She felt that if she learned about it all, it would help her decide how to move forward with the man she wanted to be with. To love him, she must fully love herself too—flaws and all.

Leaning in, she pressed a soft kiss on his cheek and whispered, "Wait for me, Love."

***

Angela woke up to the sound of barking from outside the bedroom. She grabbed Gael's light blue shirt from the floor and tossed it over her head. Why was Honey so excited this morning?

Her smile was wide when she walked out of the bedroom. She didn't even bother brushing her hair, leaving it a disheveled mess. "Hey, what's…" Her groggy voice trailed off when she realized that they had guests. Gael stood a few feet from her, and he was talking to J and Gabriella in the living room. Gael snapped his head in her direction, narrowing his stare at her outfit.

"Uh…" She blinked, freezing in place and realizing that she was only wearing Gael's shirt and nothing underneath. Good thing it was long for her that it covered her until mid-thigh like a short dress. She awkwardly chuckled when Honey jumped onto her legs, and she couldn't bend to pet her, or she'd flash them. "Hi…"

J's jaw dropped, and he waved wordlessly at her as he couldn't keep his eyes away. He swallowed.

Gael was not pleased. He shot him a glare, and J immediately averted his attention, whistling as he faced the TV.

Gabriella rolled her eyes at J, then she strode towards Angela, pulling her into a hug. "Hey, sorry if we woke you. I'm here to pick you up, so get dressed! We're going out. It's Mika's birthday, and we're buying stuff for the celebration."

"Just give me a list of what you want, and I'll ask the guys to get them for you." Gael came to Angela's side, practically tearing her off Gabby and possessively placing an arm around her waist.

His sister stuck her tongue out at him for being so possessive of Angela. "No! We have to do it ourselves. It's personal like that."

He looked between the two women—Gabby pleaded with her hands together, and Angela shrugged as if to say, 'It's your call'.

Gael sighed. "Fine. Take Rick and Trigger with you. J's staying with me. We have things to discuss."

Gabriella opened her mouth like she was about to protest but thought better of it. She glanced at J, who was still looking away, and then at her brother who gave her a stern gaze. "Whatever."

Maneuvering Angela back to the bedroom with his hands on her shoulders, Gael spoke above her head, "Go and get dressed. I'll drop you off on my way to Brooklyn."

"You're not coming with us?"

"I can't. I need to meet my father. And I have to keep my eyes on J. You'll be safe with Rick and Trigger." He directed her towards the bathroom and then kissed the side of her head before going back outside. "I'll meet you later in time for Mika's party."